FOWLER, CA - Make sure your seasonal citrus shoppers know that Star Ruby grapefruit and Navel oranges are still available! Even though the California season is winding down, Bee Sweet Citrus maintains a steady supply of these coveted varieties.

“Navel Oranges are perfect for the season because they’re incredibly sweet, easy to peel, and portable,” stated Director of Communications Monique Mueller. “They’re loved by children and adults and complement healthy outdoor meals and snacks.”

Since the start of spring, many families have been busy firing up the grill, hosting outdoor gatherings, or planning vacations. A press release noted that Bee Sweet’s varieties cater to a plethora of outdoor activities, making them a staple for every occasion.

Bee Sweet’s Star Ruby grapefruit and Navel oranges are being harvested in the Central Valley, and the company is expected to have volume through the end of the season. Both varieties are available in bag and bulk options and are packaged in high-graphic packaging.

“Our Star Ruby Grapefruit is extremely juicy and sweet, and we’ll have a great supply of bulk and bag options through the end of August,” stated Sales Representative Sergio Rodriguez. “With summer holidays on the horizon, now would be an excellent time to promote our 3 and 5 lb bags.”

Make sure those shelves are stocked with these popular varieties to keep the California citrus season going strong.

WESTHAMPTON, NY - Expanded acreage is upping Hapco Farms’ prowess in the broccoli category. Strengthening its growing network to offer a steady flow of product, the supplier expanded its broccoli acreage with new acreage in Indiana and is now shipping crowns and bunches from the region.

“We are always looking for ways to provide broccoli domestically at good rates for our customers year-round. Growing more acreage in the United States allows us to better plan and monitor our crops. With this additional acreage we can continue to get the product from the farm to the customer within 48 hours,” said Eric Scannelli, Senior Vice President at Hapco Farms. “The Midwest has farmable land at reasonable costs and we are excited to be growing in this part of the country.”

Hapco will begin harvesting its Indiana acreage this week, right ahead of the start of its Maine broccoli summer crop. As a press release explained, the company’s broccoli crops move from Georgia and South Carolina in April and May to Indiana in late May through the end of June, followed by Maine from July through October, providing a steady flow of product.

Over the years, Hapco has expanded its broccoli acreage to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and now Indiana. In the last few years alone, the company has tripled its broccoli acreage and is now among the largest suppliers of broccoli on the East Coast.

“Proactively finding more land to grow on and meeting with grower partners has been a primary mission for us these last few years, not just with broccoli but with berries, carrots, and onions to name a few,” Scannelli added. “We are always looking ahead and anticipating our customers' needs.”

Be sure to tap into the supplier’s steady supply as summer demand ramps up!

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA - George Pitsikoulis is stepping into a vital role with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA). During the Board Meeting hosted concurrently with the 2024 CPMA Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver, the organization welcomed Pitsikoulis as the 2024-2025 CPMA Chair.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as CPMA’s 2024–2025 Chair,” commented Pitsikoulis. “With the Association’s 100^th anniversary coming up next year, this significant milestone makes my term as CPMA Chair even more special. I’m looking forward to working with CPMA and its stakeholders to foster a dynamic marketplace where members thrive through market expansion, sustainable practices, and technology adoption.”

As he takes on this crucial title, Pitsikoulis will be focused on strengthening international trade relationships, promoting sustainability, and addressing the key challenges that significantly impact the produce industry.

He brings comprehensive knowledge and expertise to this role, with more than four decades of industry experience. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers, a role he has served in since the early 2000s. According to a press release, he is also on several boards including the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, the Quebec Produce Marketing Association, and CPMA, where he is still a member of its Executive, Marketing, and Food Safety Committees.

Pitsikoulis will be supported by the CPMA’s Executive Committee. To view all the members of this dynamic team, click here.

Stay tuned as we provide more of the latest industry news!

MILLEN, GA - It’s that time again! Time to applaud the deserving students who have been spotlighted as one of the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Member Scholarship recipients. The organization presented 38 scholarships in 2024, investing a total of $57,000 thanks to the dedication of its members.

As a press release stated, the scholarships are awarded to applicants who meet the application criteria of having a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing with the SEPC and has personally attended at least one SEPC event within the last 12 months. All applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 semester hours. SEPC Member Scholarship recipients receive one $1,500 scholarship annually.

Applicants are chosen based on their essay submissions, which are reviewed by members of the organization’s Scholarship Committee. This year’s essay prompt was a continuation of “The Unseen Heroes” theme, which spotlights the men and women who serve our industry by plowing fields, harvesting crops, sorting produce, loading trucks, stocking shelves, and prepping meals.

To view a full list of scholarship recipients, as well as the 2024 essay topic, click here.

Congratulations to the 38 recipients of the 2024 SEPC Member Scholarship!

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - There’s no doubt that consumer shopping habits have shifted over the last several years, and Fresh Solutions Network’s Side Delights® brand aims to stay on the leading edge of consumer trends with a variety of solutions that satisfy various demands.

“You need a well-stocked pantry to get dinner on the table night after night, and during the pandemic, there was an increase in demand for pantry-stable items,” noted Kathleen Triou, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Solutions Network. “Affordable and shelf-stable, Potatoes fit the go-to cooking vibe.”

Since the pandemic in 2020, data shows a sustained surge in consumers opting to cook at home, the brand said in a press release. This surge occurs as consumers embrace the enjoyment of preparing meals and new recipes as they develop their skills in the kitchen.

Fresh Solutions Network also uncovered a few other trends, including:

• Healthy eating habits remain a top priority, as data from the 2024 consumer expenditures study revealed most shoppers now self-identify as “health-conscious,” and one of the most frequently purchased items at a grocery store within the past month is fresh produce
• Consumers want suppliers to put the ‘plant’ back in plant-based, perfectly positioning potatoes as staple
• When choosing a recipe, 76 percent of home cooks stated their top consideration as whether they have the ingredients on hand, and 40 percent listed “pantry-friendly” as a go-to cooking “vibe” for 2024

“With a focus on healthy eating, home cooking, and budget-friendly shopping, pantry stocking is having a moment again,” added Triou. “Side Delights potatoes provide retailers with cost-effective, healthy, and time-saving shopper options for the pantry to the plate.”

Side Delights appeals to each of these demands with bagged and bulk potatoes, potato kits, convenience potatoes, petite potatoes, fresh-cut potatoes, and organic potatoes, perfectly answering the question of how grocers can cater to the growing demand for home-cooking-centric products and solutions.

For more category deep dives and shopper insights, you know where to click.

BANCROFT, WI - With warmer weather comes summer eating occasions, and retailers should be prepping for events like the Fourth of July. According to RPE, potatoes are one category that should be front and center.

“Get ready to spud-tacularly elevate your promotions and planograms this summer with help from America’s favorite vegetable—the potato—and RPE! From backyard BBQs to campfire cookouts, potatoes are the MVP of summertime outdoor cooking adventures. They’re versatile, delicious, and oh-so-easy to prepare,“ Rachel Atkinson-Leach, Vice President of Brand and Category Excellence, told me.

RPE can supply the potatoes every retail shelf needs to keep the summer sizzling. Supplies of Russets, yellows, micro trays with special shippers, and baby potatoes in all colors and sizes will be available. And back just in time for the Fourth of July is the crowd favorite, American Blend.

Russet and yellow potatoes and Tasteful Selections’ bite-size potatoes in all colors and sizes will be sales drivers all summer long, Rachel explained. For Memorial Day, RPE suggested Tasteful Selections Griller Shipper Micro Tray Combo, which was perfect for cross-merchandising near burgers or proteins for the grill and stocked with American Chophouse and Garlic Parmesan flavors.

From the Fourth of July through Labor Day, retailers should take advantage of Tasteful Selections 24 oz and 3 lb American Blend. This exclusive, limited-time offering will pair perfectly with red, white, and blue balloons or accents to catch shoppers’ attention. In 2023, retailers featuring Tasteful Selections American-themed items between Memorial Day and Labor Day saw a 10 percent increase in bite-size potato sales, on average.

“Tasteful Selections continues to innovate: adding new flavors to its micro tray lineup while maintaining the everyday favorites; introducing new packaging sizes to meet the evolving needs of retailers and consumers; and offering an array of baby potato types and varieties in flavors and sizes to meet consumers’ meal-time aspirations,” Rachel continued.

Recipes to promote for these potatoes include:

• Smoked Twice Baked Russet Potatoes
• Red, White, and Blue Firecracker Potato Salad with American Blend
• Crispy Potato Omelet with chorizo, cheese, and green onion
• Fried One-Bites with chimichurri and grilled carne asada
• Potato, Pepper, Onion, and Sausage Foil Packs with tangy mustard sauce

“Potatoes can elevate summer outdoor cooking with their convenience, versatility, and mouthwatering deliciousness. There is no preparation needed for bite-sized potatoes as they can be cooked whole. Plus, micro tray products allow consumers to prep and serve in the tray,” Rachel added. “From the classic stay-cation, camping, or hiking to festivals and park days, potatoes can be prepared in many ways: BBQ grill, smoker, outdoor griddle, open fire, outdoor deep fryer, air fryer, etc. Potatoes fit in with your favorite summer activities and your favorite foods!”

The possibilities are endless! For more potato updates and tips, stick around with ANUK.

MONTEREY, CA - We welcome every opportunity to champion the advocates of our industry. Their presence and contributions raise the bar for us all, and infuse our best and brightest with purpose and passion. On Friday, May 10, in Monterey County, California, 220 community leaders, partners, health organizations, ag companies, and supporters came together to celebrate Brighter Bites' impact on the community and raise funds for the prestigious program. During this event, the 2024 Philanthropy Award was awarded to Tonya Antle, honoring the impact of the Rick and Tonya Antle Fund to create communities of health.

“Thank you so very much for this recognition for the Rick and Tonya Antle Fund. When Rick and I created our fund in 2015, we had a vision to help the next generation of ag families. We both wanted to acknowledge our roots and show gratitude for the industry that was so good to both of us and our families,” Tonya shared with the day’s guests, thanking her fellow advocates and the Brighter Bites team as well. “I am looking across this gathering, seeing many of my produce and heroes and heroines. I love how our community rallies together whenever there is a need, to fill that gap. The ‘give where you live’ philosophy is thriving!”

As the Brighter Bites team expressed, Tonya has been a driving force in the farming and produce industry for the past 30-plus years. During this time, Tonya has been recognized as a top spokesperson and a true trailblazer for the organic produce segment, and she continues to serve the fresh produce community through her philanthropy.

In addition to honoring Tonya at the spring event, this year’s President’s Award honored Steve Church and Church Brothers Farms for their ongoing produce donations, outstanding philanthropy, and long-term partnership.

“We were honored to award Tonya Antle with the 2024 Philanthropy Award and Steve Church with Church Brothers with the President's Award. Tonya has played a large role in building our community and support in Monterey Country. We are so grateful for the advocacy of Steve and the produce industry in supporting our work of creating healthy communities in Monterey County and beyond,” Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites, told me.

The Church family has been an integral part of Salinas Valley agriculture for almost 100 years, Rich added, with brothers Tom and Steve working in the lettuce fields as teenagers and founding Church Brothers Farms together in 1999.

“The next generation and extended family members are now working throughout the company, which today is one of the largest vertically integrated grower/processors of fresh vegetables in the Salinas Valley and beyond,” Rich stated.

Along with Tonya and Church Brothers being honored, the crowd was graced by the incredible generosity of the attendees including a matching donation of $25,000 from Steve Barnard at Mission Produce. In addition to this wonderful gift, guests were also able to witness the children's choir "Mighty Veggie Melodies" sing about produce.

Please join me in celebrating Tonya, the Church Brothers family, and all those whose passion and commitment continue to elevate fresh produce today, and what it means to the future of our communities.